Christmas list ideas – is it time for a change?

It’s around now that I begin to think about my Christmas list ideas and this year I have decided it’s time for change.

I love Christmas. Taking some time off work and spending some time relaxing is always good. I also love the fact that the kids are off school and I get to see them a bit more often. (I am not sure if they feel the same, however – they are teenagers after all!) The opportunity to spend more time with extended family and friends is also a lovely bonus at this time of year.

However, there is much that I don’t love about Christmas!

For me, the main bugbear is the fact that it has become so commercialised. The adverts start in October, persuading families all over the country that in order to have a great Christmas, we must purchase lots of stuff. You just need to look at the hype on social media when the John Lewis advert is launched or when the Coca Cola lorry comes to town, to see just how much the public get sucked into the commercial craze. It is so easy to get drawn into this. In the past I have trailed along behind my kids to see the Coca Cola lorry on a miserable, wet night. And guess what…………it was beautifully lit up but, at the end of the day, it’s just a lorry!

Are they doing it to help us have a lovely Christmas?

No!

They are doing it to get us to add their products to our Christmas lists.

The John Lewis ad seems to have also become a stalwart of the festive season, but guess what? Their main reason for doing it is to encourage us to add their products to our Christmas list. Now I don’t blame John Lewis or Coca Cola for doing this – it’s brilliant marketing and it works. Fair play to them – that’s the business they are in.

Where has the magic gone?

Add into the mix the number of hours that we spend buying and wrapping gifts, buying and preparing food and decorating the house on top of the day-to-day juggling that we all have to do. It is then easy to see why Christmas is reported to be the 6th most stressful life event. Unlike other stressful events like moving house, divorce and changing jobs, Christmas happens every year and continues to cause us stress each year. In a recent survery by memorisethis.com it found that 85% of people find buying presents difficult and 65% report that they feel stressed about gift shopping. It makes me sad that Christmas causes so many people, so much stress.

Even without Christmas, many people are finding that they are already busier than they would like, as they struggle to keep all the household, career and family plates spinning. I constantly feel rushed off my feet and feel that I hardly see my friends anymore. I used to spend hours on the phone, chatting to various friends and family – now it’s a quick text! It’s just not the same. We sometimes grab a quick coffee but often weeks can go past without spending any quality time with my very best friends. Am I alone in this? I suspect not.

It is for these reasons that, in the last couple of years, I have refused to be drawn into the Christmas hype. Stuff doesn’t matter – people matter! For me Christmas (and life) is about the people and this advert just sums it up for me. Take 2 minutes to watch it, it’s truly fab.

I hope that you loved that as much as I did – it certainly made me stop and think.

It’s for all these reasons that I have decided my theme for Christmas ideas this year is time. Every gift that I give will be something that will encourage me and the recipient to spend time together enjoying each other’s company. I think it will help to make our Christmas feel more special and I hope that they feel the same.

My Christmas list ideas, offering a range of options to suit every budget

Family History

What about planning to spend some time with your family? There are some fantastic museums and visitor attractions all over the country, many of which are free of charge. Why not get a date in the diary that will allow you to spend some wonderful days out with the whole family.

Learn a new skill

If you look around in your local area there are often great value course on offer. Spending a night a week in January and February with your mum, as she and you learn a new skill, might be a present that is very well received. Check google to find courses on offer in your local area.

Showtime

There are so many shows available in lots of different cities and towns around the country. Check out the huge range on Ticketmaster. It might be a lovely chance to escape from normal family life and enjoy some time with the adults in your family, or perhaps it could be a whole family treat by taking the kids along too.

Gifts of time

Would someone enjoy a child-free weekend and the chance to spend some quality time with their partner? What about giving them some printable vouchers to enjoy a weekend away, while you look after the kids? That might just be a Christmas list idea that money can’t buy!

Experiences and attractions

Tesco clubcard offer some amazing experiences for everyone to enjoy together. Many of the clubcard rewards are worth 4x the value of your vouchers. This can be a wonderful way of offering a present that you might not otherwise be able to afford. Vouchers can be used to purchase tickets to castles, zoos, theme parks and loads of other fantastic attractions. They can also be used for restaurants, cinemas, hotels and transport, which all offer a way of purchasing gifts at a fraction of their normal cost.

Who loves a treasure hunt?

Treasure Trails offer a brilliant opportunity for families to spend time together having fun and creating memories. There are loads of different treasure hunts all over the UK. They make a great value, fun present that will be loved by people of all ages.

A night at the movies

What about planning a family movie night every Friday night in the month of January? Charity shops have an amazing selection of DVDs. You could easily make up a family movie pack, including snacks and drinks, without spending very much money. This is a cheap, but lovely, Christmas list idea that could even become a weekly tradition.

Seeds of change

You could buy Fun to Grow Seeds along with a Kids Gardening Tool Set . You could then dedicate a corner of your garden, or a couple of tubs, and let the kids and their grandparents/dad grow stuff together. (or even with you, but you might be better to supervise from the patio with a gin!)

Photo finish

How about getting some old pictures from grandparents’s house, scanning them and creating a slideshow of their lives? The easiest way is of scanning them is to take photos of them using your smartphone, then use an app like iMovie or Photo Slideshow maker. Add some music and invite them round for a viewing and some tears and laughter!

Just between us

I love all these Christmas list ideas, but this has to be one of my favourites! Just Between Us Journal is a wonderful way of ensuring that our girls (or boys) are able to communicate and feel comfortable with family members. With the pressure that our young people are under today, I think this could be a really valuable tool, especially if you are able to start it before they reach their teenage years

Did you get any Christmas list ideas? Do you have any other suggestions that others could benefit from? Feel free to comment below and share your ideas.

I hope that this blog post has given you some inspiration for Christmas. None of them will break the bank and will hopefully add some magic into your festive season.

Eileen x

I am Eileen Adamson, Your Money, Sorted coach, working online with UK based women. I can help you to develop a better relationship with money and feel calm, relaxed and positive about money. This will allow you to feel confident, in control and able to make good financial decisions. Through creating a good relationship with money you can then live the life that YOU want to lead.

Archives

Archives

Eileen Adamson is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.

About Eileen Adamson

I am Eileen Adamson, a Your Money, Sorted coach, working online with UK based women, helping you to develop a better relationship with money. I can help you to understand your money mindset and implement changes which will allow you to feel calm, positive and confident as you become happier, healthier and wealthier.

Freebies

How to manage your money better These freebies will help you learn how to manage your money better, and be happier, healthier and wealthier. Please click on the relevant button to download. I promise not to bombard you with rubbish emails, or share your details with anyone else.

Why not grab a coffee and read these great blog posts about money mindset? My Finance for Freedom clients are LOVING learning about their money mindset, and are surprised at what a difference it can make to the money in their pocket.

"I didn’t know what to expect at first but after only 4 weeks I am saving money everywhere and I’m on a path to a beautiful place! Eileen is not only a financial coach, she is my life coach....and a bit of a hero in my eyes!
Just having that little nudge to take the time to find cheaper alternatives, creating personal and business budgets and communicating more can take so much pressure off.
Due to the dramatic savings I am making, I am now feeling ‘guilt free’ when taking some time off to spend with my family. I have found my ‘switch off’ button!
So, I would like to thank you Eileen Adamson from the very bottom of my heart for everything you have done for me and my family. This has been a life changing experience and I want everyone to know how amazing you are."

Why not grab a coffee and read these great blog posts about money mindset? My Finance for Freedom clients are LOVING learning about their money mindset, and are surprised at what a difference it can make to the money in their pocket.